Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 355

May it Please your Excellency
At the Request of the Nanticoke Indians I take the Liberty
to acquaint your Honour that I have been Acquainted with
the aforesaid Indians Forty two years (my Place of Resi-
dence being a part of their Town) and very well know
George Pocatehouse or Pocatous as some call him to be a
Decendant from the family of old Panquash one of those
Indians to whom his Lordship gave the grant for the Nanti-
coke Town Lands and Likewise that William Cohonk is a
Descendent from the Aforesaid Nanticoke Indians, Cohonks

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

Mother lived with me from a Girl and I was Acquainted with
her until her Death and that she was the Daughter of old
Panquash as aforesaid and farther that Peter Monk is a
Descendent from the Indian River Indians in Worcester
County, and no ways allied to the Nanticoke Indians as I
have been Informed by the old Nanticoke Indians who I have
Often heard Speak of Monks Family. Thomas Hackett I
have Often heard speak of the same Indians and to the same
Purpose of what I have Related, I am about Seventy Four
years of age and am unable to wait on your Honour but will
at any Time if Required make Oath to the Above Contents
and am.
Your Excellencys most Obed^t Hble Serv^t
her
Mary M Cratcher
mark
April 3^d 1759
p. S. Solomon Wright who is Son to old Edward Wright
who was the Indian Interpreter in the first Setling here
knows the same as is abovesaid.

Which being Read and considered of and upon hearing
what the Indians Present had to say on behalf of Peter
Prince and Pocatehouse This Board are of Opinion that
Pocatehouse has the best Right to be made Chief Man of the
said Indians, with which Opinion his Excellency Agrees and
Acquaints the Indians thereof and they seemed Well Pleased.

The said Indians then Addressed themselves to the Gov-
ernor in the following Manner.

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Governor in Council
Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland.

Brother we the Heard Swamp Bapco and Other the In-
dians and all our Brother Indians do now once more Present
our selves that is two or three of our Indians as a scattered
Remnant of a confused Nation Come to see you once more

p. 309